Tow-bar cycle carriers - any thoughts on Witter, Thule, etc?

<newbie> Hi,

We've decided that our two bikes are to go on holiday with us, so we need a better method of
transport than just putting down the back seats and pushing them in!

As the wife is not overly tall and not overly strong, we've ruled out roof mounting. I don't like
the idea of balancing bikes on the hatch of my Vectra, so we've plumped for the tow bar mounting.

Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter. The Thule looks neat, especially the 'Hang On' as
it fixes directly to the tow ball without the need for a seperate mounting - the 'Ride On' looks the
easiest to set up but is limited to just the two bikes (we sometimes take 'spare' kids out!). The
Witter looks solid!

Are these OK, should I be considering others? Do they really just sit on the tow bar without extra
straps to the car? Are there any more flexible models that would let us occasionally put four bikes
without have a much larger constant overhang?

Andy </newbie

 

www.roofbox.co.uk they know their stuff

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!

Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~

 

"Andrew Hardy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> <newbie> Hi,
>
> We've decided that our two bikes are to go on holiday with us, so we need
a
> better method of transport than just putting down the back seats and
pushing
> them in!
>
> As the wife is not overly tall and not overly strong, we've ruled out roof mounting. I don't like
> the idea of balancing bikes on the hatch of my Vectra, so we've plumped for the tow bar mounting.
>
> Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter. The Thule looks neat, especially the 'Hang On' as
> it fixes directly to the tow ball without the need for a seperate mounting - the 'Ride On' looks
> the easiest to set up
but
> is limited to just the two bikes (we sometimes take 'spare' kids out!).
The
> Witter looks solid!
>
> Are these OK, should I be considering others? Do they really just sit on
the
> tow bar without extra straps to the car? Are there any more flexible
models
> that would let us occasionally put four bikes without have a much larger constant overhang?
>
> Andy </newbie>
>
>

I have roof mounted and towbar version (both Thule) and you would be surprised on how tough the
towbar one is!

 

"Pete Biggs" <pLime{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Brake calipers wanted to buy: And possibly also: Campag Athena, Chorus or Record SINGLE
> PIVOT rear,
> mid/late 1990's, allen key type.

Would you believe it? Despite being a notorious hoarder I threw a set of '91 Athenas away thinking
"nobody'll want them". Sorry Pete, you could have had 'em for the cost of post. (useless offer of
the year award deserved for that!). However........I did keep the Athena 53/42 chainset and Record
BB and a pair of little used Mach 2CD sprints on Athena screw ons should you or anyone else be
interested.

Pete.

 

In message <[email protected]>, Andrew Hardy
<[email protected]> writes
><newbie> Hi,
>
>We've decided that our two bikes are to go on holiday with us, so we need a better method of
>transport than just putting down the back seats and pushing them in!
>
>As the wife is not overly tall and not overly strong, we've ruled out roof mounting. I don't like
>the idea of balancing bikes on the hatch of my Vectra, so we've plumped for the tow bar mounting.
>
>Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter.

>Are these OK, should I be considering others?

They are good makes, I'm sure they are ok, though no experience of these sorts of racks.

Another good name to have a look at is Pendle.

<http://www.pendle-bike.co.uk/>

--
Chris French, Leeds

 

On Mon, 28 Apr 2003 17:00:05 +0100, "Andrew Hardy" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Are these OK, should I be considering others?

Yes they are OK, and there are others. www.roofbox.co.uk know their stuff; I have a Tradekar 4-bike
hitch rack from them and very good it is too.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com (BT ADSL and
dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

 

I have been using the Pendle 4 bike rack for about 2 years, it is secure and give good piece of mind
when driving. It has the benefit of securing the bikes by both wheels and the frame, those bikes are
going nowhere. I highly recomend it.

Gary

"chris French" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>, Andrew Hardy
> <[email protected]> writes
> ><newbie> Hi,
> >
> >We've decided that our two bikes are to go on holiday with us, so we need
a
> >better method of transport than just putting down the back seats and
pushing
> >them in!
> >
> >As the wife is not overly tall and not overly strong, we've ruled out
roof
> >mounting. I don't like the idea of balancing bikes on the hatch of my Vectra, so we've plumped
> >for the tow bar mounting.
> >
> >Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter.
>
> >Are these OK, should I be considering others?
>
> They are good makes, I'm sure they are ok, though no experience of these sorts of racks.
>
> Another good name to have a look at is Pendle.
>
> <http://www.pendle-bike.co.uk/>
>
> --
> Chris French, Leeds

 

On Mon, 28 Apr 2003 17:00:05 +0100, "Andrew Hardy" <[email protected]> wrote:

><newbie> Hi,
>
>We've decided that our two bikes are to go on holiday with us, so we need a better method of
>transport than just putting down the back seats and pushing them in!
>
>As the wife is not overly tall and not overly strong, we've ruled out roof mounting. I don't like
>the idea of balancing bikes on the hatch of my Vectra, so we've plumped for the tow bar mounting.
>
>Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter. The Thule looks neat, especially the 'Hang On' as
>it fixes directly to the tow ball without the need for a seperate mounting - the 'Ride On' looks
>the easiest to set up but is limited to just the two bikes (we sometimes take 'spare' kids out!).
>The Witter looks solid!

We've got a Witter. It has a hefty plate you bolt onto the end of the towbar bracket (replace the
tow ball if needed) and a socket into which fits a pole with arms. They claim you can fit 4 bikes on
it, but the best I've managed is three. Beware the max download on your towbar - see manufacturer's
spec for details. I substituted some nylon self locking straps for the bungees they provide with it.
We've had ours about 6 years, still going strong, but the padding on the arms is a bit knackered.
You'll probably need a lightboard and number plate as well.

>
>Are these OK, should I be considering others? Do they really just sit on the tow bar without extra
>staps to the car? Are there any more flexible models that would let us occasionally put four bikes
>without have a much larger constant overhang?
>

For four bikes look at Maxrack (sp?) or Pendle.

Tim
--

fast and gripping, non pompous, glossy and credible.

 

In message <[email protected]> , Andrew Hardy
<[email protected]> writes
><newbie>

>Two makes have caught my eye - Thule and Witter. The Thule looks neat, especially the 'Hang On' as
>it fixes directly to the tow ball without the need for a seperate mounting - the 'Ride On' looks
>the easiest to set up but is limited to just the two bikes (we sometimes take 'spare' kids out!).
>The Witter looks solid!
>
>Are these OK, should I be considering others? Do they really just sit on the tow bar without extra
>straps to the car? Are there any more flexible models that would let us occasionally put four bikes
>without have a much larger constant overhang?

></newbie>

Thanks for all your thoughts, I'm still following up on all the suggestions! Whilst looking at the
Witter, I saw mention of using a strap to stop the carrier 'flexing' . I've not seem similar for the
Thule or the Pendle bike ride on-style carriers - are they not affected in a similar manner. I also
came across a MaxxRaxx which sounded very simple to use - anyone have experience of this?

--
Andy Hardy. PGP ID: 0xA62A4849